Valley woman faces judge; left her children in a hot car

A valley mother who is accused of leaving her 4-month-old child in a hot car, faced a judge for the first time.

Phoenix Police say the girl was left in a car for more than 20 minutes while the mother went shopping.

She made a tearful plea in court to see her daughter.

"I just want to see my baby; I forgot her in the car," said Ericka Quintanilla.

Ericka Quintanilla cried during her first court hearing behind bars. The 32-year-old mother admitted to leaving her 4-month-old daughter in a hot car on Friday.

"I just want to hold her," she said.

Police say Quintanilla and her 12-year-old daughter went into the Ross Store on Baseline Road to go shopping and left the baby in a car seat, with the windows up and the engine off. It was 104 degrees outside.

A Good Samaritan saw the baby in the car and called police. Police saw the baby strapped in a car seat crying and sweating covered in a pink fleece blanket. Officers broke out a back window to open the door.

The 4-month-old baby was soaked in sweat. The mother came out of Ross 20 minutes after the first 9-1-1 call.

Quintanilla came running out of the store saying "I never wanted to be one of those moms, I just ran in there real quick."

The judge said she could have contact with her baby if the Department of Child Safety allows it, and there is another responsible adult present.

Quintanilla was also in court for another warrant that she had, for driving on a suspended license.

Police say Quintanilla had an open warrant for driving on a suspended license. Court records show she has quite a few traffic tickets, including driving without a license, driving without insurance, and driving with a child not secured in a car seat.